Collapsible box for shipment of eggs and other articles



Oct. 23, 1923. l 1,471,508

J. H. SPANGLER COLLAPSIBLE BOX FOR SHIIYMENT OF EGGS AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Aug. 8. 1921 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct.. 23 1923. l 1,471,508 J. H; SPANGLER COLLAPSIBLE BOX FOR SHIPMENT OF EGGS AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Au'g. a, ,-1921 z sheets-snm 2 C l I 0 Patented @et 23, 1923.

caire JOHN n. sranetne, or enermax, iarnnnsora, Assrenon To NATHANIELASA AnDIss,

' os ninnnarozcrs, MINNESOTA. u

COLLAPSIBLE BOX FOR SHPMENT OF EGGS AND OTHER RTICLVS. u

Appcation filed August 8, 1921. r*Serial No. 490,496. Y

To @ZZ whom t may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, JoHN H. SPANGLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bemidji, in the county of Beltrami and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boxes for .Shipment of Eggs and Other Articles; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a. full', clear, Aand exact description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the lart to which'it appertains to maire and use'the same.

This invention relates to ya collapsible crate adapted for the shipment of eggs and other articles. l K

It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible crate or box which can be easily assembled for the shipment of various articles and which can vbe readily collapsed into a much smaller space for the return of the box to the shipper, thereby effecting a great saving in transportation costs and also a saving of space when the same is stored and not in use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the folding parts ofthe crate with inter-engaging and locking device which will hold the same rigidly and securely, in packing position.

These and otheriobjects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in fol-l lowing description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichrlike reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, and in which, Y

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of one side of the box;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the box when in'collapsed condition;

Fig. 1 is a Vtransverse section of the bOX in collapsed condition, the upright or unfolded position of someof the parts being indicated in dotted lines;-

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the inside corner of the box showingA the locking device; Y l I Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of one corner of the crate .Showing the inter-'engaging members Fig. 7 a fragmentary section showing loclring devices for v:the crate when in folded position; l

Fig; 8 is a section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7; V

Fig. '9 is a fragmentary end elevation showingfa modified lform of the crate;

Fig. 10 is a section on the'line 1010 of Fig.9;

Fig, 11 is a fragmentarylongitudinal section ofthebox showing a modification; and

Fig. 12 is a section taken on theline 12-12 of rig. n. f

Referring to the drawings, the crate comprises la baserportionrl shown yas having spaced panel forming depressions 1a extending longitudinally of' its bottom surface. l This base portion is formed with a'fixed upstanding side portion 1b and an opposite fixed upstanding vside portion '1 of,y somewhat vgreater height `than the portion l". The base alsohas a fixed end portion-1dl of considerably greater height than the fixed side portion 1# The corners of the base and fixed side and end portions are reinforced by quadrant-shaped metal plates 2.' rThe ends of the lfixed end portions 1d and also the end of the fixedside portions' 1b and 1c are formed at their top surfaces as Yjournais or Shinge pins and are, also formedintermediate their lengths at their top sur* faces with Vhinge pins. Hinged sidempor-` tions 3 and 4i are hinged to these hinge'or pivot pins by strap hinges ofv thin sheet metal '3" and 11, and hinged end members or panels 5 are hinged to the.4 pivot pins on the fixed end sections by straphinges 5a.' The strap hinges are fastened lto the hinge sections by suitable screws', pins`or rivets. The side and end sections as shown in Figs. 1

and 4 are provided vwith spaced depressions forming panels.v A top member or panel 6.V

is Ahinged tol substantiallyV the middle portion of the side member 4 by triangular- 4shaped bails 7 made preferably fromwstif metal wire. These bails are fastened to the top member by hinged? clips 8 of thin (sheet. metal and theiroutturned ends are secured to the side members'll by hinged clips 9 of thin sheet metal. The top member can thus swing relatively to the side member 4, as

f side member 4.

shown in Fig. 4. rThe top member 6 ha adjacent each edge, a bool; member 1() 'faftened to its nndersurtace, which hook n bers are, when the case is in collapsed condition, as shown in Fig. 4, adapted to hook over the top edge of the side member The top member 6 is provided acent its central portion with bent bail members i hinged thereto and adapted, when the is in collapsed condition, to swing up over the edges of the end members 5, as shown in Fig. 3, to hold the said members in. med position. spring catch comprising a plunger member 13 urged upwardly by a spring in a socket adj acent the ends el the members 5, holds the bail members 11 in engaged position. rlhe end members 5 provided at their side edges with angle members 5l shown in section in Fig. 6, one side of which angle member extends parallel to and. slightly spaced from the inside surface ot said end members. The side members 3 and 4 are provided with similar angle members 3", one outside surface olf which is flush with the end surface of said side members and the other side of which is secured to the inside surface of said side members. illhen trie side and end members are in upright position, the angle'members 3b and 5b come into :trictional engagement as shown in Fig. 6. These angle members thus prevent outward swinging movement of the end and side sections when the same are in upright position. ln order to prevent inward swinging movement of these members, locking clips 14 are pivoted at the ends ot the side members adjacent the top thereof and swing into slots 15 i'ormed in the end member, as shown in Fig. 5. y

Vilhen the box is erected tor packing condition, the side and end members stand in vertical positions with the members 3b and 5b engaged and the locking clips 14 in the position shown in Fig. 5. The top member 6 then extends across the box, the top surtace of the same being flush with the top surface of the end members 5, as shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to collapse the crate, locking members 14 are disengaged and the. side member 3 is then swung down subst-am tially in Contact with the base or bottom member 1. rlhe top member is then swung upwardly and outwardly and the hooks 10 engage over the edge oic the side member 4 and these members are then swung` down together, the side member 4 coming in subcontact with the side member 8 and the top sectionv 6 beingV superposed on said "lllie end `sections are then swung down on top of the top member 6 and the bail member 11 swung up over the edgesof the end members. The end members areprovided with grooves 5C to accommodate the sides of the bail members 11 and "ililhen this is done, the top membe.

Vsections connected thereto inf/Lace l. th e PTY.

portions or same are swung to bail members lo prvoted to the cente1v L', ,yf i .7 'c Tps; I, o Lions a, assnown in i ig. s.

lt is desired to sometimes use the c t a shipping' bof; without the top mer are simply be removed with its attachin` members T `nd the top portions ot l members 5 will then be detached anc i as portions 16, shown in 9 and 16. lllhen tbe boi; is erected tor use.y the pon tion 16 will be swung down at the inside ot the end members o and will art as a brace 'for the side portions to prevent their being collapsed inwardly.

lt is also contemplated to place a parti tion member 17 in the box to extend transversely thereof substantially at the central portion. rlhis partition member will be hinged at its bottom and movable into collapsed position, as shown in dotted li Fig. 11. Suitable spring actuated catches 18 will be arranged in the sides ot the bei; to hold the partition members in upriglt position. ilVhen this partition member is used the fixed side sections ot the bei; and the fixed end sections will vnecessarily be somewhat higher so that the side end sections can told downwardly onto the partition member.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple and eticient crate and one which can be very quickly and easily placed in packing and shipping or in collapsed positions. ln the illustrated embodiment of the invention tbe various sides of the crate are shown as made ot wood, but it will be understood that any desired material may be used. The crate has been found to be very successtul and etiicient in actual use.

lt will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the to i de tails and proportions of the device withont departing Jfrom the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and donned in the appended claims.

lillhat is claimed is:

1. folding crate having a bottom pon tion` a short fixed side portion rigid there-- with, a. side portion hinged to said Fixed si( e portion and foldable down flat on said bottom portions, an opposite higher lined side portion and another side portion hinged thereto and oldable down on said first mentioned hinged side portion, tired end sections on said bottom member, hinged end and toldable downward onvsaid last mentioned side nortions, and a top member connected lil@ hinged bails to one of said side portions and foldable down ovei` the same.

2. The structure set forth in Claim l, said bail member` being connected adjacent the side edge of said top member and also being connected adjacent the middle portion Tvertically of said side member.

3. The structure set forth in claim l, the end sections folding down over the top seetion. and means on said top lsection for holding the end sections in folded position.

4:. A collapsible crate having a base panel, a, foldable side and foldable end panels, a second foldable side panel, a fold- 15 able top panel hinged thereto by spaced bail members, and means on the underside of said -top panel to hook over the `edge of the side panel to Which it is `hinged when the crate is in folded position.

5. A crate comprising a base portion, short fixed side and Vend sections, collapsible side and end sections, hinged at their lower edges to said Xed sections, and pivoted fiat locking blades at the ends of the y side sections engagea-ble in slits in said endA seetions, said blades lying substantially flushl with said side sections.

In testimony whereof I alix my signa-- ture. v

JOHN H. SPAN GrLER. 

